American COP July/August 2009 - Page 34

GEAR HOGS Suzi Huntington What’s-What for CopS 5.11: 5.11 Tactical’s Covert Casual Shirt looks like any ordinary casual shirt I see men wearing today. The difference is subtle, yet practical for concealed carry — in several different formats. velcro elcro side vents allow for virtually any on-thewaist gun to remain hidden. But when you need it — rip — and the sides open for an easy draw. do o you use a shoulder holster? No problem. Rip open your shirtfront like Superman — the buttons are actually snaps. The shirts are a sand-washed rayon/polyester blend with a UPf-40 -40 rating, have a moisture-wicking mesh lining and come in a variety of solid colors and three choices of plaid — they look pretty cool. www.511tactical.com Mantis Knives: This lightweight little gem — the MT-2ti — is part of their “Class Act” series. While it may not be something you’d carry in uniform — although I was known to carry some unusual knives in the field — it’s a knife that’d be a nice option in plain-clothes assignments. The knife has a 3" black oxide coated, S30v steel blade with and overall length of 7". The slim lines of the knife boast a liner lock, anodized titanium liners — giving purple highlights to an otherwise tactical black knife — and carbon fiber scales. www.mantisknives.com 34 W WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • JULY/AUGUST 2009 TA Al Mar: I’ve always admired the simple but oh-so-deadly designs of Al Mar knives and they’re as good as many handmade knives but are more affordable to you and me. The Payara is an excellent example of an ideal duty carry knife. It has a 4" blade made of vG-10 steel, with an overall length of 8.5" and weighs in at 6-ounces. There are ambidextrous thumb stud openers, a liner lock and the scales are textured G-10 with a stainless steel pocket clip. www.almarknives.com R E T G I ops are gear-hogs — absolutely. But let’s take it a step further and say the best cops are gear-hogs, the guys and gals who shop with a keen eye for tools, equipment, training and more. Basically, anything that will help them do their jobs better and safer. I’m not talking about “Captain Gadget,” the guy who always has the latest widget. You know him, the one who buys the newest cell phone, newest G N C laptop, newest weird off-duty gun “but it’s made out of ceramic!” and newest battery-operated holster … and the list goes on? The cops I’m talking about buy solid, good things with reputations in the real world, things from companies with track records, products their peers recommend, proven performers — or new things that make sense and answer needs. This is a large crosssection of things, but I felt it was important